Micha Kaufman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Fiverr, the global online marketplace for freelancers. Let’s say you’re a designer. You can list your services and display your portfolio. And then companies who want stuff designed like a new website can find you and hire you to do the work.It's called Fiverr because at the beginning all the tasks cost 5 dollars. Though the pricing has changed, the name has stayed and the platform is currently used by 4.2 million customers in 160 countries worldwide. The company launched in 2010 but Micha was committed to growing it organically so spent nothing on marketing for the first five or six years. And that is even more incredible when you think that Fiverr, which went public in 2019, has a current market cap of just under 1.4 billion dollars and revenue of over 160 million dollars this year so far. Micha says it’s three times larger than it was when it floated. But during the pandemic, they skyrocketed to a market cap of 11 billion dollars….yeah, we get into that period!As well as that, Micha tells me how being featured on Yahoo nearly ended Fiverr when it first launched; why he says their success is down to luck, and much more.--SponsorsVorboss - get better internet: https://vorboss.com/secretleadersVanta - get 20% off security certifications like ISO27001 and SOC2: https://vanta.com/secretleadersVertice - save on your SaaS or cloud spend ($5k off or a free benchmark) using the code secretleaders: https://www.vertice.one/l/secretleaders--NewsletterSign up here: https://secretleaders.email/You can find our historic newsletters here: https://www.secretleaders.com/episodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Micha Kaufman, the visionary founder and CEO of Fiverr, shares how his platform revolutionized the gig economy, making freelancing more accessible. He discusses the evolution of work from traditional employment to flexible side hustles, highlighting the role of AI in creating new opportunities for freelancers. Kaufman reveals strategies that helped Fiverr connect millions of businesses to talent globally while emphasizing adaptability in today’s workforce. Tune in for insights that could reshape your career approach!

Micha Kaufman, co-founder and CEO of Fiverr, dives into the revolutionary journey of transforming the gig economy. He shares insights on the irrational optimist mindset essential for entrepreneurs and discusses key decisions that fueled Fiverr's growth. Micha reflects on the importance of continuous innovation in adapting to market disruptions and highlights his biggest career failures as lessons in resilience. The conversation also touches on the balance between leadership and personal challenges, and the evolving landscape of freelancing.